Assembly for distributing solid particles on a moving web

Abstract

The assembly includes a moving web drawn in a first direction and a spreading apparatus evenly distributing solid particles onto the moving web. The spreading apparatus includes a rotating disk having an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface is adapted to distribute solid particles outwardly as the solid particles strike the upper surface of the rotating disk. The spreading apparatus further includes a baffle positioned about the rotating disk. The baffle includes a first diameter and a second diameter wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter, and the first diameter is oriented perpendicular to the first direction in which the web is moving and the second diameter is oriented parallel to the first direction in which the web is moving. The spreading apparatus also includes a feed assembly positioned above the rotating disk so as to provide a predetermined supply of solid particles to the upper surface of the rotating disk.

1 . A spreading apparatus for evenly distributing solid particles onto a moving web, comprising: 
 a rotating disk having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being adapted to distribute solid particles outwardly as the solid particles strike the upper surface of the rotating disk;    a baffle positioned about the rotating disk, the baffle being shaped to evenly distribute solid particles upon the moving web; and    a feed assembly positioned above the rotating disk so as to provide a predetermined supply of solid particles to the upper surface of the rotating disk.    
     
     
         2 . The spreading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein keystock is applied to the upper surface of the rotating disk.  
     
     
         3 . The spreading apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the feed assembly guides the solid particles to a position adjacent the center of the rotating disk.  
     
     
         4 . The spreading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the baffle is defined by the equation  
       
         
           
             
               y 
               = 
               
                 x 
                  
                 
                     
                 
                  
                 
                   tan 
                    
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         
                           π 
                           w 
                         
                          
                         x 
                       
                       - 
                       
                         π 
                         2 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
             
           
           
           
               
           
         
         where w is the width of the web and a continuous baffle for particle emissions over an angular extent 360° is obtained by using the above relationship for an upper portion of the baffle and reflecting results about the x-axis to obtain a bottom portion of the baffle.  
       
     
     
         5 . The spreading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the baffle is eye-shaped.  
     
     
         6 . The spreading apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the baffle includes a first diameter and a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, and wherein the first diameter is oriented in the direction of the moving web and the second diameter is oriented perpendicular to the direction of the moving web.  
     
     
         7 . The spreading apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the baffle is defined by the equation  
       
         
           
             
               y 
               = 
               
                 x 
                  
                 
                     
                 
                  
                 
                   tan 
                    
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         
                           π 
                           w 
                         
                          
                         x 
                       
                       - 
                       
                         π 
                         2 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
             
           
           
           
               
           
         
         where w is the width of the web and a continuous baffle for particle emissions over an angular extent 360° is obtained by using the above relationship for an upper portion of the baffle and reflecting results about the x-axis to obtain a bottom portion of the baffle.  
       
     
     
         8 . The spreading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotating disk is rotated at approximately 400 to 3000 rpm.  
     
     
         9 . The spreading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotating disk is circular.  
     
     
         10 . The spreading apparatus according t 6   claim 1 , wherein the feed assembly guides the solid particles to a position adjacent the center of the rotating disk.  
     
     
         11 . A distribution assembly, comprising: 
 a moving web drawn in a first direction;    a spreading apparatus evenly distributing solid particles onto the moving web, the spreading apparatus including: 
 a rotating disk having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being adapted to distribute solid particles outwardly as the solid particles strike the upper surface of the rotating disk;  
 a baffle positioned about the rotating disk, the baffle including a first diameter and a second diameter wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter, and the first diameter is oriented perpendicular to the first direction in which the web is moving and the second diameter is oriented parallel to the first direction in which the web is moving; and  
 a feed assembly positioned above the rotating disk so as to provide a predetermined supply of solid particles to the upper surface of the rotating disk.  
   
     
     
         12 . The distribution assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein sandpaper is applied to the upper surface of the rotating disk.  
     
     
         13 . The distribution assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the feed assembly guides the solid particles to a position adjacent the center of the rotating disk.  
     
     
         14 . The distribution assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the baffle is defined by the equation  
       
         
           
             
               y 
               = 
               
                 x 
                  
                 
                     
                 
                  
                 
                   tan 
                    
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         
                           π 
                           w 
                         
                          
                         x 
                       
                       - 
                       
                         π 
                         2 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
             
           
           
           
               
           
         
         where w is the width of the web and a continuous baffle for particle emissions over an angular extent 360° is obtained by using the above relationship for an upper portion of the baffle and reflecting results about the x-axis to obtain a bottom portion of the baffle.  
       
     
     
         15 . The distribution assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the baffle is eye-shaped.  
     
     
         16 . The distribution assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the baffle includes a first diameter and a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, and wherein the first diameter is oriented in the direction of the moving web and the second diameter is oriented perpendicular to the direction of the moving web.  
     
     
         17 . The distribution assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the baffle is defined by the equation  
       
         
           
             
               y 
               = 
               
                 x 
                  
                 
                     
                 
                  
                 
                   tan 
                    
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         
                           π 
                           w 
                         
                          
                         x 
                       
                       - 
                       
                         π 
                         2 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
             
           
           
           
               
           
         
         where w is the width of the web and a continuous baffle for particle emissions over an angular extent 360° is obtained by using the above relationship for an upper portion of the baffle and reflecting results about the x-axis to obtain a bottom portion of the baffle.  
       
     
     
         18 . The distribution assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the rotating disk is rotated at approximately 400 to 3000 rpm.  
     
     
         19 . The distribution assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the rotating disk is circular.  
     
     
         20 . The distribution assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the feed assembly guides the solid particles to a position adjacent the center of the rotating disk.